DNA Vitamin Metabolism Test

Why test the vitamin metabolism and nutrient requirements?

People have varying needs for nutrients – for example, some people absorb larger amounts of vitamins. Others absorb particular nutrients less efficiently from food. Others tend to be at risk of disease, which they can counteract with an adequate intake of minerals and vitamins.

Which nutrients your body particularly needs is also determined by your genetics. If you know your genetic predisposition and your metabolism better, you can ensure you receive a sufficient supply of the required nutrients - for example, with nutrient deficiency tests, a targeted change in diet or nutritional supplements.

The cerascreen® DNA Vitamin Metabolism Test provides you with information on how your DNA determines your nutrient requirements and what you should focus on when it comes to your daily diet.

Please note: If the DNA analysis shows an increased risk of a nutrient deficiency or disease predisposition, it does not automatically mean that you will develop these! These genetic predispositions are probabilities and indicate the possibility of certain health problems emerging. Moreover, the recommendations regarding a balanced diet that meets needs are also useful for people who do not display these predispositions.

Who should take the DNA Vitamin Metabolism Test?

The DNA Metabolism Test is an excellent choice for anybody who wants to ensure an optimal intake of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. The information gained from the DNA Vitamin Metabolism Test helps you to identify crucial nutrients and to take targeted countermeasures through nutrient deficiency tests, nutrition and supplements.

For some people, these insights are particularly interesting: lifestyle, illness and diets such as veganism can influence how high your nutritional needs are for certain nutrients. If you already have special requirements regarding your vitamin and mineral intake, it can be useful to learn about your genetic preconditions for nutrient needs as well.

How does the DNA Vitamin Metabolism Test work?

For the DNA Vitamin Metabolism Test, take three small saliva samples from the oral muscosa – that is, the inside of your mouth. Three cotton swabs are included in the test kit to take these samples; place these in the test tubes after use. You can then send the saliva samples back to us to be analysed in the specialist medical laboratory.

The specialised laboratory performs complex DNA sequencing. This means that the components of the DNA can be analysed in great detail. How long the analysis takes depends on the quality of the sample provided – sometimes, the laboratory has to repeat the analysis several times. Therefore, in individual cases, it can take up to four weeks until you receive the test result.

What do I need to consider when I take the DNA Vitamin Metabolism Test?

The higher the quality of the sample, the faster and easier it is for the laboratory to analyse it. You can help by observing the following guidelines for collecting samples:

• You should not eat or drink anything for at least half an hour before taking the sample.
• Do not brush your teeth or use mouthwash during this time.
• Do not smoke in the half hour before the test is done.
• The sample must be stored in a dry place for 24 hours before it is sent off. During this time, the specimen dries across the aeration membrane at the bottom of the test tube.

What does the results report tell me?

Based on the 26 genes analysed, the results report provides you with information about genetic characteristics with regard to your requirements concerning the six nutrient groups. In each case, you will receive a possible interpretation of whether your gene variants require a normal or increased dosage of vitamins and nutrients.

The levels of the following nutrients are analysed:

• Antioxidants
• Vitamin B12 and folic acid
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D and calcium
• Iron
• Unsaturated fatty acids

What kind of recommendations will I receive?

In each case, you will receive specific recommendations on how to consume the appropriate dosage of various vitamins and nutrients – depending on how well your metabolism works.

We will also provide you with general tips for a healthy diet that you can use in your everyday life.

Why do I need antioxidants?

You may need to increase your antioxidants intake if your body is prone to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when there are too many free radicals in the body – oxygen molecules that can damage the genetic material of cells. Antioxidants are the antagonists of free radicals and can curb their effects.

You can cater to this requirement through your daily diet: we take in antioxidants through a range of nutrients, including phytochemicals, zinc, selenium, iodine and vitamins A, B2, C and E.

Why do I need vitamin C?

Vitamin C has an antioxidant effect and is involved in numerous important processes in the body – for example, in immune defence, in the formation of collagen and hormones and in the transport of fatty acids.

Although a vitamin C deficiency is rare in the Western world today, it can have serious consequences, such as impaired wound healing, anaemia and bleeding gums.

If your genes indicate you need more of this vitamin, it makes sense to pay extra attention to the intake of vitamin C-rich foods. These include many berries, citrus fruits, peppers and green vegetables, such as kale and spinach.

Why do I need vitamin B12 and folic acid?

A gene variant can increase the risk of elevated levels of the amino acid homocysteine in the body. This, in turn, can increase the likelihood of atherosclerosis and other circulatory disorders.

You can counteract this by ensuring an adequate supply of folic acid and vitamin B12. This is because the two nutrients regulate the production of homocysteine and counteract an excess of it.

This is particularly relevant for people who are vegetarian or vegan because vitamin B12 is found almost exclusively in animal products. Vegans should therefore regularly check their vitamin and nutrient intake levels and take vitamin B12 supplements.

Why do I need vitamin D and calcium?

Vitamin D and calcium are essential for healthy bones. Vitamin D controls calcium absorption in the intestine. Calcium, in turn, is absorbed into the bones and makes them stronger.

That is why vitamin D deficiency has been shown to have a major impact on the risk of developing diseases such as osteoporosis (bone loss) and osteomalacia (softening of the bones), among others.

If your gene variants indicate an increased risk of bone loss, it is therefore worth checking your vitamin D and calcium levels. Many people in Europe lack vitamin D, which our bodies produce with the help of sunlight.

Why are children under 18 not allowed to take the test?

Our tests are not suitable for underage children and adolescents under the age of 18. Under 18s cannot activate the tests online and therefore cannot receive a test result. We ask that you do not administer the tests to your children either.

Children and adolescents need much closer supervision and counselling regarding medical tests and their interpretation. Testing with lancets and chemicals is not without risk and would need to be closely supervised by guardians. In addition, the reference values we give are always based on adult data. In the case of children, the risk of misinterpreting the results would be very high.

We want to fulfil our responsibility as a provider of medical products and ensure that children and adolescents are not unsettled by measurement results that are difficult for them to interpret. Since we cannot control whether the minors' legal guardians actually consent to the test being carried out and supervise them, we exclude tests for under 18s altogether.

If you are under 18 and have purchased a test, please contact our customer support.

Why does it take up to a week for the sample to reach the lab?

Please bear in mind that your results will not be analyzed in the UK but in Germany. For that reason, it can take up to a week for the sample to arrive at the lab. This does not affect the stability of the samples, as the method we are using is optimized for long transports.

Initially, your sample is sent to our collection center in the UK. From there, it is shipped to our central sample sorting facility in Germany, which then distributes samples to our partner laboratories. Once your sample is analyzed there, you will receive a notification and can access your result online.

Please check your mailbox regularly. We will notify you as soon as your sample is sent, arrives, or is analyzed.